The Exley Showcases Undergraduate Research, Arts

New Publication Named for Longtime University Supporter, Former Employee

Mar. 5, 2012

The first edition of The Exley debuts on March 29.

Student-led research on social media, volcanoes, and plant extracts, as well as poetry and photography, are all part of an ambitious project spearheaded by the Office of Undergraduate Education at UT Dallas.

Each of the stories and articles will be published in the inaugural issue of a new research journal called The Exley, which showcases a sampling of research prowess and creative thinking by UTD undergraduate students.

Emily Butler submitted an anaylsis of volcanoes, on Earth and on Mars.

The events of the day will include a student panel, corporate guests, and the Undergraduate Research Poster Contest.

“The quality of the submissions we received during our first call for proposals far exceeded our expectations,” said Dr. Sheila Amin Gutiérrez de Piñeres, dean of Undergraduate Education. “We had submissions from every school that demonstrated the academic diversity of our campus and the breadth of contributions our students are making to University research activities.”

Student body president, Sharkey Andrews, submitted a poem.

Participating students turned in their submissions for the journal last fall.The students’ faculty research mentors reviewed the initial proposals, which were solicited from students in all disciplines. Then, a panel of experts from the appropriate disciplines reviewed each submission. The Exley Advisory Board voted on final entries.

Undergraduate student Emily Butler submitted an article about the analysis of volcanoes on Earth and Mars.

“This was important to me because I hope to not only gain experience writing scientific articles, but also engage others in the research that I’ve done,” she said.

Dr. Sheila Amin Gutiérrez de Piñeres is dean of Undergraduate Education, which oversees the project.

Butler added that she hopes her work could educate others and prompt future research projects.

Sharkey Andrews, a senior and student body president, submitted a poem to The Exley – something she viewed as an important balance for the project.

“I wanted to give my art a chance to stand alongside research in this journal,” Andrews said. “Producing art is the means by which our observations meet our emotional and psychological experiences.”

The journal includes profiles of the students whose work was selected. The next round of applications will officially begin at the March 29th event. Detailed guidelines for submission are available on the Exley website.

“It is one more way to show the world the quality of student research here and our commitment to providing undergraduates with an education and opportunities that foster success.”

Dr. Sheila Amin Gutiérrez de Piñeres

“The interest in the journal illustrates how our students value their experience at UT Dallas,” Piñeres said. “It is one more way to show the world the quality of student research here and our commitment to providing undergraduates with an education and opportunities that foster success.”

The journal is managed by the Office of Undergraduate Education and is printed in collaboration with staff from the Office of Research and the Office of Communications, along with administrators from each school, faculty and students.

The Exley is named after UT Dallas supporter and former longtime staff member Elizabeth Exley Hodge. Ms. Hodge joined the administrative offices of the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies in 1967, which became UT Dallas in 1969. She retired in 1986 after nearly 20 years of service to the University.

About Elizabeth Exley Hodge

The Exley is named after UT Dallas supporter and former longtime staff member Elizabeth Exley Hodge. She began work in the University's administrative offices in 1967 when the institution was called the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies.

When the Center became UT Dallas in 1969, Hodge transferred to the Biology Department in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, where she assisted faculty members in preparing research grant applications.

After a number of years in grants management in the school, and later in the Office of Sponsored Projects, she retired in 1986. She currently resides in Dallas. Read More